Employment Opportunities

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Originally Posted by BBC

Danny,

I feel like I am walking into quicksand while looking at the issues surrounding the unrest post-independence. The unrest of Timor extends from well before Independence, well before the Indonesian invasion, well before the Portuguese.

Don't look for simple answers in a country of such complexity. Firstly, look at the ethnolinguistic map of the place:

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Don't want simple answers....that's what the media give. I'd like to try and understand the place a bit more. I'm not after "expert opinion". But, you've been there and know something of the people.

I always felt we let them down over Indonesia. They helped our diggers in WW2, when the Japs occupied Timor. We should've helped them.

It worries me that we may be following the yank model of shoving help down peoples throats, whether they want it or not. (makes us feel better)

I'd like to think we are more sensitive to their needs and feelings. Asking what help they need or want. How we can work with them, side by side. Or let them do it for themselves, offering what resources they want.

I guess I'm talking about respect. I don't think we've respected them as we should.

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Originally Posted by BBC

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The termites must be huge.

Cheers
Simon

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Originally Posted by kaa45

Don't want simple answers....that's what the media give. I'd like to try and understand the place a bit more. I'm not after "expert opinion". But, you've been there and know something of the people.

I always felt we let them down over Indonesia. They helped our diggers in WW2, when the Japs occupied Timor. We should've helped them.

It worries me that we may be following the yank model of shoving help down peoples throats, whether they want it or not. (makes us feel better)

I'd like to think we are more sensitive to their needs and feelings. Asking what help they need or want. How we can work with them, side by side. Or let them do it for themselves, offering what resources they want.

I guess I'm talking about respect. I don't think we've respected them as we should.

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Kaa45,

I agree with you all the way. At the time though, it was in Australia's interest to have only one country to negotiate with over the gas....and hundreds of thousands of Timorese were killed under the Indonesian occupation.

Yes, you talk about respect. It is all about respect. Consider what regard we hold for our neighbouring nations. We really are the US of the south Pacific.

If I could help the Timorese it would be along the lines of health, education, agriculture, infrastructure, and tourism.

Health. The re-establishment of Postos Saudes (Health Centres) in population centres where prevention can be the focus. Malaria is still endemic and is realtively easy to reduce with education. You need to be healthy to go to school.

Education. With such a prolific demographic under 18 there will be growing future problems if education is not brought to the kids. Portuguese has been chosen as their unifying language. This contests against the more prevalent Indonesian in the west of the island. Unity is important and needs to be pursued.

Education needs to be appropriate and shaped for both individual and national needs. In 2004, after the Govt opened for educational institutions, within a very short time there were 13 registered universities in Dili....almost all teaching English and IT.

The primary and secondary schooling is under intense pressure because of sheer numbers. There is a need for vocational training...and this includes agriculture.

Agriculture. Agricultural improvement needs to be appropriate and concentrate on meeting their food supply needs to lower the dependence on imports.

Infrastructure Heavy dependence on roads on an island that is geologically unstable and requires constant renewal and maintenance. Their roads are not suited to heavy transport. Need to consider the benefit of developing transport nodes from their ports and the use of sea transport to move bulk.

Tourism. It makes me shudder to think of what development can bring to Timor in the shape of tourism. If it were up to me...their guiding principle would be...don't try to emulate Bali.

A bright and shining light I found in Dili was a Trade Training Centre set up by the Brazilian government. We, with their military heard about it and we had a need to get trade skills into their military. I went in and met with the Principal, expecting to find we would have a significant wait. They were having trouble getting students...so we walked right in.

Have a look at the facilities. I can only hope they are full to the brim now, some four years later:

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The intention of teaching tradeskills to the soldiers was, primarily to enable them to get out into villages and construct and assist where possible and, also to look after their own barracks.

WOW :eek: I'm impressed!

Thanks for the considered answers. That's what I wanted to know, more about the people and their lives.

Thanks BBC. Threads like this make the Forum much more interesting. (not that landies aren't interesting :angel: )

I thought I had just about exhausted my Timor photos and then, on another folder in my hard-drive, I found some that were long forgotten. So….suffer…

These are a set of photos I took when two TLC Troopies took a weekend drive along the north coast to the east, right out to the very end of the island to the town and beach called Tutualu. It was a great place to get away to, we could camp on the beach and buy fish off the local fishermen to grill on the coals...and no mossies:

These are some of the stuff that slows you down on the roads. Apologies for the focus but, you get the idea:

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Look at the handlebars on this one:

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On the way past the airfield at Bacau we went out to have a look at the Russian aircraft wreck and....got a flat:

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Further along at Lautem we stopped to have a dekko at some Portuguese ruins...they were....ruined. What was even more professionally relevant was this:

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It was a Japanese strongpoint on the hill overlooking the ocean. It looked almost 'drambuie'. They were rather tight and, of course, well sited. I'd have hated to prise them out:

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These two shots were taken from the jetty at Com looking back to the shore. This had also been built by the Japanese. The water here was DEEEEEP. We fished off here with great results on later occasions:

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From Com you head up the hill toward Los Palos, and then hook a left to drive right out to the most eastern point of the island, at Tutualu. Tutualu is of interest location wise and because within the locality resides one of the rarest languages on earth. It is the Maku’a language and in 2004 it was estimated that 50 people spoke it. Something else that we will inevitably lose.

These are some of the traditional housing in the villages on the way. It is obvious the retention and maintenance of them is of some cultural significance. Beautifully maintained:

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It is a bit of a drive, and the road is best negotiated in a 4WD but your reach the end of the isalnd and you are able to enjoy this view, looking back toward the west.

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Now..one without the glory seeker in it:

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The coast around the eastern end of the island is a wild place. A few of us spoke of the possibility of running some sea-kayak tours, launching from Com, and finishing at Tutualu Beach, an overnighter. Or even making a three day trip and going right around the end, and finishing on the south coast near Lore. Would be great.

After the lookout you take a steep 4WD drive down to the beach. I said the coast is wild but, it has been accessed by fishermen for ever. Timor is a rare sanctuary for fish and marine life in SE Asia...it won't last forever:

This is the Tutualu Beach which looks across the passage to Jaco Island. Note the tidal shift on the headland:

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The water between the mainland and Jaco is very deep but, from the beach it is beautiful snorkeling over live coral. One day when we went over to the island for a walk and look around the passage behind us came to life. There were porpoises leaping and plunging back into the water, and I am talking in the hundreds. The water was alive and the porpoises were making the most of a huge school of tuna that were passing through the paasage. The movement of the school took more than an hour, and there were porpoises pillaging it for as far as we could see. One of those moments when nature makes you feel very small.

The local fisherman fish to supply anyone that turns up. What a variety, and cheap, nothing over $5USD!

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and as usual, there are the kids, always there, and always cute and photogenic.

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Los Palos Markets were at it's bustling best on the way home,

We dropped into the butchers to see what was on special:

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We had a quick look in the Pet Section:

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As we left, school just got let out:


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Sounds like they kept the kids in to protect them until you were leaving. :o

Good photos and story BBC, keep it up!:):)

I'm in awe of your insight and obvious respect for the various different cultures that you have come in contact with. I have just spent the last two hours reading this thread from the start and am a better person for it(I intend to share this link with the important people in my life). It is a pity that this sort of respect and insight can't be passed on to all the "know it alls" that seem to be every where these days. Might I make an observation, it does seem that LR people do tend to lead more interesting lives. This may have something to do with the need to be practical and enjoy the simple things in life without all the bling.

Safe travels.

Regards
Mike L